Why two packages for one item?

[crippledcrumbs]

Hello, I have a question that I can't find any information about. I recently ordered a single item from China. It was sent SF Express, and was seemingly delivered to the wrong address (different state entirely). I opened a refund request, and received a message from the seller saying there was a mistake, and they sent me two new UPS tracking numbers, each created a couple days apart, just a few days before my original item was deemed "delivered" by SF Express.  Obviously, they told me it was a mistake and that they wanted me to close the request. Not doing that just yet.

My question in particular, aside from the obvious "does anybody recognize any of this as scammy at all?", is
"why would I get two separate, distinct tracking numbers for one item?" It's literally one item, absolutely not possible to be broken into two items, one item and that's it. Why is the seller 'seemingly' sending me two packages? The only thing I can think is that, since the new UPS numbers were created a couple days before SF deemed my packages as delivered, maybe that was the hand-over from SF to UPS, but the dates and locations still don't seem to add up.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[mtgraves7984]

I don't know what kind of "refund request" you've opened... maybe it's an Item Not Received claim or a Return request (??)... but don't close it. And to answer your question... yes, it sounds a bit scammy. Good luck and good golly...

[albertabrightalberta]

Yes, it's scammy. 

Your item shows as delivered so the seller would (seemingly) have tracking showing delivery (though not to you). But at first glance, ebay would close your case because it was delivered. You may have to contact and explain to ebay that the seller used a fake tracking number scheme to show delivery and it's not even to your state.

The seller tried to appease you by following up with a bonus shipment, again probably not to you and likely not what you bought. 

From what I've observed (and in one case had personal experience), sellers in "some countries" are notorious for fake tracking scams, offering partial refunds for NAD items and trying to bribe buyers to close cases. 

DO NOT EVER close a dispute before satisfactory resolution.

[donsdetour]

sounds like the fake tracking number scam that is going around. Do not close the case.

If one of thiese numbers says delivered contact shipper and make sure the addy is acualy yours:

This type of scam send junk to some place in your zip code (not at your addy) so it shows delivered.

Stop purchasing from china...

[crippledcrumbs]

K, I’m just gonna go ahead with my ‘item not received’ claim then. I knew that you weren’t supposed to close a claim before your issue was absolutely resolved since that’s how they get you, I’ve just never experienced the fake tracking scam before, and the seller had a really good rating, so I was confused. Anyway, thanks for the help, even though I still don’t understand the two package logic. Whatever.